backwoods07 Posted January 6, 2010 Report Share Posted January 6, 2010 I've owned a Toyota Camry for over 10 years and 163,000 miles. Old car, ton of miles, I get this, but up until about three months ago, I sank under $500 to keep it running. Most of that cost is a new battery every once in a great while. It's still got its stock muffler for Pete's sake! Within the past 4 months, it seems like everything is breaking. New rack, new plugs, wires, ball joints, gaskets, distributor cap, struts, you name it! It's cost me clear over $1,500 to fix. Here comes the problem. I just missed the .9 financing on a 2010, so I have to wait another couple months to even think about a new purchase. The other day, the car started clunking every time you accelerate through a left turn. It clunks through the entire turn and lasts about 3 or 4 seconds. It has a very minor clunk when you turn right. I can't tell if anything is loose and have no idea what this can be. Any ideas would really help me decide if I should pay to have someone take a look at it, or just throw the dang old car out! Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted January 6, 2010 Report Share Posted January 6, 2010 Sounds to me like a cv joint. They can be a bit high to have replaced. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocMort Posted January 6, 2010 Report Share Posted January 6, 2010 Tie-rods, wheel bearings, ball joints. Sorry to hear about your troubles. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woolybear Posted January 6, 2010 Report Share Posted January 6, 2010 Sounds to me like a cv joint. They can be a bit high to have replaced. That's what I was thinking. Had the same thing happen to me last winter when it got so bad the bearings shot out turning into a service station. Just junked the old Probe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
92xj Posted January 6, 2010 Report Share Posted January 6, 2010 If you have only spent $500 bucks on repairs that means you have not done the scheduled Timing belt replacement at 90k-120k miles. I CV joint in a camry will make more of a Popping noise like hitting two large marbles together. Is that the "clunk" noise you hear? It could also be loose lug nuts, check those ASAP. Upper Strut bushings can also make a nice clunking sound while turning, but will also do it over bumps in the road. Check the steering as well. Have the car in OFF and get someone to sit in the drivers seat and turn the wheel back and forth while you are on the ground with a flashlight looking at your tie rods, rack and ball joints. If they move they are shot. The steering wheel turner should only be able to move the wheel around 1/4 to 1/5 of a rotation. So not much at all. Dont have them turn and fight the power steering that is not working while the car is off. Just move it from 10 to 2 or 11 to 1. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toddyboman Posted January 6, 2010 Report Share Posted January 6, 2010 while it SUCKS to pay for repairs.....a random repair bill is better than a monthly payment of $300 or more. SO until you reach that point I would keep on repairing your car.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaun_300 Posted January 6, 2010 Report Share Posted January 6, 2010 Does it clunk while you're turning the wheel only? Or during a steady turn without turning the wheel? If it's only while you turn the wheel it's probably the front strut bearings seizing up, if it's while you're doing a steady turn without turning the wheel I'd say either a wheel bearing or loose lug nuts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
backwoods07 Posted January 7, 2010 Author Report Share Posted January 7, 2010 If you have only spent $500 bucks on repairs that means you have not done the scheduled Timing belt replacement at 90k-120k miles. I CV joint in a camry will make more of a Popping noise like hitting two large marbles together. Is that the "clunk" noise you hear? Does it clunk while you're turning the wheel only? Or during a steady turn without turning the wheel? The money that I spent on scheduled maintenence wasn't included in my rough estimate of $500. I'm sure I spent over a grand on oil changes alone. After gettin back in the car and testing it, it does sound more like a clunking noise than a popping noise, and it makes the noise all the way through the turn, not only when turning the wheel. The first thing I did was check the lug nuts and torqued them down just in case. Does the fact that it happens more through a left turn than a right turn help in any way? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted January 7, 2010 Report Share Posted January 7, 2010 Clunking or clicking? Does the sound increase with wheel speed? If it is a rapid clicking that increases with wheel speed there is no doubt it is a cv joint. If it is a clunking, probably more likely a shock/strut. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redkneck Posted January 7, 2010 Report Share Posted January 7, 2010 Could also be a motor mount maybe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
backwoods07 Posted January 7, 2010 Author Report Share Posted January 7, 2010 Clunking or clicking? Does the sound increase with wheel speed? If it is a rapid clicking that increases with wheel speed there is no doubt it is a cv joint. If it is a clunking, probably more likely a shock/strut. Definitely clicking more than clunking. The sound does increase with speed. Looks like I need to start pricing CV joints. Thanks for the help!! Grrrrr. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaun_300 Posted January 7, 2010 Report Share Posted January 7, 2010 I'd just get a whole axle for it, less pain and aggrivtion changing it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GWSmith Posted January 7, 2010 Report Share Posted January 7, 2010 I can do the basic stuff but I'm not a mechanic, dont pretend to be, I can comiserate with you on the financial side of owning an older vehicle. My favorite saying lately is "I cant afford to get rid of it...everything is new but the Paint"...and it's headed in this Friday for some more Exhaust work:hammer1: It is not new but it is paid for and I like it. The 2 most important things about ownership of a vehicle...LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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